Restoring your smart phone allows you to return it to optimal performance. Sometimes smartphones don’t function the way we expect, and the best way to troubleshoot a severe problem with your phone is to simply restore the device to a factory default or older version. It doesn’t matter if you’re restoring an Android or an iPhone, all devices can benefit from being restored every once in awhile when facing technical difficulties. Read on for a guide to restoring any smartphone.
Why should I restore my smartphone?
There are a few reasons you should consider restoring your smartphone to an older version or to factory defaults. If you’re facing any of the following problems and are unable to troubleshoot them on your own, it might be time to restore your device:
- Your device is running slowly
- Your operating system has been corrupted
- A new application or an application update has created a device problem
- You plan to transfer ownership of your device
- Your device is experiencing a problem that isn’t fixed by softly restarting it
If you’re facing one of the situations above and other methods of repairing your device are not solving the problem, it’s time for a full restore. The good news is it’s quick and easy to restore your device on your own, and you don’t need to take your phone to a repair center. Your phone will be up and running like new in no time!
How to backup your smartphone.
Because you will lose your data, contacts, documents, and applications when you restore your device, you need to have a backup to default back to. If you don’t have a backup, you’ll essentially have to start from scratch depending on your SIM card. It’s best to get into the habit of automatically backing up your smartphone so you’re always prepared if you need to restore.
Backing up your iPhone
If you have an iPhone, all backups are done through the iCloud. You can configure automatic backups by going to Settings > iCloud > Backup. From there, you can turn on automatic backup. If you’re not sure whether your phone has backed up recently, in iCloud settings click Storage > Manage Storage for recent backup information.
Backing up your Android
Your Android can be backed up through your Google account. On your device, go to Settings > Personal > Backup and reset. From there, click both Backup my data and Automatic restore. Then, go to Settings > Personal > Accounts & Sync and ensure your Google account is selected. You can then choose which available data you want to be synced with your Google account.
Extra protection
Sometimes it’s best to have more than one backup stored. You can manually backup your photos and important files through a service like Dropbox, Onedrive, or Google Drive which you can install on your device. You can also manually store photos and files on your computer for extra protection.
Restoring your smartphone
Now that you have your backup, it’s time to restore your smartphone. If you have a backup saved either on your computer or in the cloud, you won’t have to worry about resetting all your personal information, applications, and files. Here is how to easily restore your smartphone!
Restoring your iPhone
Follow this guide for how to reset your iPhone to get started with a photo guide. Essentially, on your iPhone you go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. It’s that easy! Now your phone will slowly erase all your data and restore to factory settings. To restore your backup, go to Settings > General > Apps & Data > Restore from iCloud Backup. From there, you’ll be prompted to sign into your Apple account. Choose the right backup you want to restore from and click restore! Your device should now be right where you left off!
Restoring your Android
On an Android device, to reset you will need to go to Settings and then Backup and Reset. It will give you the option to backup your data before you restore and to automatically restore from your backup. Check the appropriate boxes and click Factory data reset. This should restore your phone with your latest backup after the factory reset!
Keep your smartphone performing at its best!
Restoring your smartphone doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you regularly perform a backup of your phone on the cloud, you shouldn’t have any difficulty restoring your phone to optimal performance. Restoring your device can keep it running at its fastest and can help debug your device if you run into any problems. Don’t be afraid to restore your device! It can make a big difference!